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Who looks after children in the event of disasters?
Children are amongst the most vulnerable both physically and mentally during times of disaster. They are incapable of escaping themselves or seeking help. They are also more prone to malnutrition and water-borne diseases. Save The Children works on a war footing during times of disaster to safeguard
Who can forget the iconic photo by Kevin Carter of a vulture stalking an emaciated child in South Sudan or who can shake away the image of a young boy holding on to this dead mothers bosom in the communal riots of Mumbai. Each of these photographs and more of their ilk send us a grave reminder that every time disaster strikes, children are at risk.
Any disaster whether man-made conflict or natural catastrophe, children are amongst the most vulnerable, both physically and mentally. The younger they are, the more the impact on their impressionable minds, preventing them to seek out help or even escape the situation. They are also more prone to malnutrition and water-borne diseases. If separated from their families, it makes all the more difficult to rehabilitate such children as there is no identity left. The biggest of all these risks is that of post-traumatic stress. Psychologists say that witnessing first-hand trauma changes a child forever. Hence, a child-centered approach to disaster management is very crucial.
Organisations like Save the Children step in here. It is one of the few global and national organisations that have been doing exemplary work in the field of caring for and rehabilitating children during disasters of large magnitudes whether it was the tsunami in 2004 or the Assam floods. Ray Kancharla, National Humanitarian-DRR Manager, Save the Children, says the organisation springs into action whenever a disaster strikes and the first step is to categorize it based on different factors including magnitude. The Child Centered Humanitarian Response focuses on providing child protection, water sanitation and hygiene, health, education and creating Child Friendly spaces (CFS) that are specifically built for the psycho-emotional well-being of the crisis affected children.
It is interesting to know a bit more about the CFS as it this element which is very different from any other disaster relief measures that you may have come across. CFS is like oases amidst the mayhem that is a disaster site. The CFS are shelters which bring together children for learning and getting involved in extra-curricular activities. It is also a place where they share their concerns and clarify doubts in a safe environment. “During any disaster, people usually try to reach out to families and assume that the needs of children would automatically be taken care of. What we don’t realise is that children have specific needs,” says Sajit Menon, Deputy Director, Programmes.
As recently as 2008, the UK chapter of Save the Children used to press in action in the event of a disaster, mobilising local support and providing help. The need for continued support was felt so much that it warranted the starting of an Indian arm, based in New Delhi. Today, the programmed has 370 staff, several international volunteers and people from corporate companies, spread across 20 states within the country. Almost all of them are trained to handle kids and also stay safe during a natural calamity.
The Save the Children drill is meticulous and planned in fine detail including well defined timelines. No wonder they end up making a huge difference in the field. Once the on-ground situation stabilises, a risk assessment is conducted based on 6 parameters – families that are women-headed (lost husband), child-headed (lost both parents), families with pregnant or lactating mothers, families needing immediate health care, families with maximum number of children and families in extreme poverty, which are classified as most vulnerable.
This is followed by the consolidation mode where they begin to touch lives. An example is the assessment carried out on 5000 families during Tamil Nadu floods after which beneficiaries were selected. They came across a woman with a 21-year-old daughter. The woman was affected by HIV and was supporting her family by doing tailoring work. As she couldn’t continue that work as she had lost all her equipment in the flood, she requested the workers if they could help her daughter finish her degree in physiotherapy.
The humanitarian response plan is divided into 3 phases. The first phase, also known as the immediate response lasts from day zero to 90 days. This is the phase which has the potential to create immediate impact, that’s where items life shelter, household utility kits, and hygiene kits. The most important component here is the setting up of the Child Friendly Spaces (CFS). Here the displaced children are protected from trafficking as they get to spend the whole day in a safe environment. Here they are taught about the difference between good touch and bad touch.
Day 90 to 270 is called the Recovery phase where children are prepared to integrate into normal life. They organisation also begins work on restoring schools and moulding facilities into more child-friendly ones. The final phase is rehabilitation which can last up to 5 years. During this period education and other facilities are closely monitored for continuity. The long term outlook of the organisation is to develop and implement comprehensive school safety programmes which will cover safe learning facilities, co-ordinating with the government and the public works department and even make small investments.
Read the original story by Blessy Mathew Prasad at www.newindianexpress.com